So this is my literal definition of "Samm's historical fiction trash"

I am just...like GA about medieval Scotland and taking maybe real/maybe fake characters from old history and just fucking with them. It's a thing that needs to happen more and doesn't. Taking the potential real person that became the mythical "Merlin" and then giving me the POV of his twin sister who got married to a King who would then fight her brother...YASSSSSS

It's definitely slower paced at some points but it uses this time to develop the world of characters or whatever. The main character can be frustrating at times because she knowingly does things that will get her in trouble but in her own place, I would probably do the same.

The romance: forbidden lovers in medieval settings just does things to me (Christ, look at my user name). It is pretty insta-love and sappy but I feel like the tone of the book actually lends itself to that.

The sex scenes: give me more :D

Political & religious conflicts: so I admittedly threw this book once during my reading. I cannot STAND when people use religion to manipulate politics and power. It's erks me to my damn soul. I'm not ever having it. The book focuses very heavily on the wave of Christian conversion that swept through England and Scotland. Now if you've ever read a history textbook...or any Tudors fiction or nonfiction book then you'll know that the UK has had some "issues" with religion in it's past (looking at you Henry VIII) and you can see that in this book. The overlapping of sacred places in multiple religions causing tensions, people using religion to manipulate those around them for pure power and greed. I also loved the look we had at the weird boundaries situation. Like most places now have like definite borders. This is Canada. Canada has a Prime Minister. Each territory and province has a premiere. Where as like centuries ago it was like "well I'm the sorta King of this area but I have to answer to this other King but now he's involved with the Christian religion while I'm following traditional Celtic rules" all within like a days sail of each other. I'm curious to see how this will get developed in the sequel since Languoreth is now in the middle of a war between her husband and twin brother and her kids are involved. Hot mess. I thought I had family drama!